SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, Calif. — Democrat Adam Gray narrowly ousted incumbent Republican representative John Duarte for California's tightly-contested 13th Congressional District.
The race was a rematch of the 2022 midterm election, one of the country's closest House races. Democrats bet on higher turnout in a presidential election year in this majority-Hispanic 13th Congressional District, which Democrat Joe Biden comfortably carried in 2020.
The 13th District encompasses the city of Merced, Turlock and other areas of the San Joaquin Valley.
“The final results confirm this district is ready for independent and accountable leadership that always puts the Valley’s people ahead of partisan politics,” Gray said in a statement posted on X.
The race between Gray and Duarte again came down to the wire as less than 200 votes separated the two candidates in what became the country's last outstanding U.S. House race.
Gray is a former state legislator first elected to the State Assembly in 2012. Before serving in office, he was a lecturer at the University of California, Merced.
He has been critical of state water management and puts water and agriculture at the top of his issues list.
While serving in the legislature in 2018, he led an opposition effort against Assembly Bill 2639, which would have prohibited new water storage creation from the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Gray organized a rally at the state capitol that ultimately paid off as the measure failed in the legislature.
Gray also opposed Proposition 47 in 2014, a ballot measure that reformed certain drug and retail theft-related charges. Proposition 36, passed in November, reforms the changes made in 2014.
Right now, stealing property worth $950 or less is a misdemeanor. Under Prop 36, however, it can be charged as a felony if the person has two prior convictions. The measure also increases penalties for some drug charges.
When he was a state legislator, he was also elected by his colleagues to the New Democratic Caucus and was a founding member of the Problem Solvers Caucus.
While on the campaign trail, Gray highlighted his ability to work across the aisle. He was endorsed by Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke, Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse and Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira, who identified themselves as Republicans in a campaign ad.
“I’m one of the only congressional candidates in the country endorsed by elected Republicans, and I’m proud of that. I have broad support from every corner of the community. That’s what we need to do, work together, and I think the American people are tired of all the fighting,” Gray said.
In his victory statement, Gray promised to deliver clean water, better educational opportunities, stronger infrastructure and more good-paying jobs for the people in the valley.
